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How Do You Know For Certain Karma Exists
Comments
I think that would have to be a case of divine intervention.
Perhaps being without conscience IS the karma for something so in playing it out throughout their life they're undoing it just by being it.
While "actions have consequences" seems obvious to us, many people refuse to believe this observation applies to them. A man is on trial for murder. He waved a gun in a man's face while robbing him, and the gun went off, killing the victim. This man will tell you, "It was an accident. The gun just went off. I didn't mean to shoot him." and think that makes a difference. The consequence of robbing someone at gunpoint, even if you don't walk into the gas station planning on killing, is that you've made it possible for you to kill someone. You might not shoot someone this time, but eventually it will happen. Actions have consequences. But the man will continue to argue it was an accident. Not his fault. So even this basic karma can be ignored.
I don't think one needs to think that it's a completely, from a beginning, fresh start. The idea that it is completely modifiable with current and future right actions, right speech, etc. is more than enough IMO.
Loser pays next lifetime :P
It's like you love someone and don't know what to say. The right way has not manifested yet. But the ultimate bodhicitta/love is just fine as it is.
And we look in so many places like drugs. These places might rarely manifest a ray of ultimate bodhicitta, but mostly not.
Except there are traditions that do seem to allow you to mitigate the effects of negative karmic seeds sown, I learned awhile ago. But I don't think that's common.
Freeing animals bound for slaughter, offsets negative karma of whatever we killed.
Charity work and helping others when they need help also works to purify our bad karma.
Chanting the correct sutras for the departed, the sick also helps a bit.
Think of it as your bank balance, whether you make more withdrawals or deposits.... spend wisely.
Meditation demonstrates existance itself in a constant state of fluidity.
Certainty is relative, at best.
Because of this, I approach any personal search for certainty as just another manifestation of ego best addressed through my meditation.
I don't pay much attention to proof or it's lack when the practise of meditation is really little more than the observation of life's cause & effect....or Karma.
1 Power of Remorse - The full power of remorse involves a feeling of great regret over the previous evil deeds and full declaration of confession in front of objects.
a investigate the meaninglessness of non-virtue b investigate the fear of its result c by investigating the need to be free from it quickly
2 The Power of Antidote 3 Power of Resolve 4 Power of Reliance [refuge] It's standard teaching in Tibetan Buddhism.